The government’s so called “one-in, one-out” deal has been branded “completely unworkable” and “cleverly unfounded or made-up human rights claims” will prevent the Home Office sending asylum seekers back to France.
Under the agreement signed between the French President Emmanuel Macron and Sir Keir Starmer France can refuse to take back any French migrants that they believe could pose a “threat to public policy, internal security, public health or the international relations of any of the Schengen States.”
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said, “This deal is likely to be completely unworkable and will be ruthlessly exploited by human rights lawyers to prevent people being returned to France.
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“Even a clearly unfounded or made-up human rights claim will stop a return to France while it goes through a lengthy court process.
“This deal has no numbers in it – presumably because they are so small. Returning just 6% of illegal immigrants, as reported, will have no deterrent effect whatsoever – because 94% get to stay.
“And the deal says that France will not provide any information at all about those they are sending to the UK – so they could be criminals or terrorists and we wouldn’t know.
“This is a bad deal, which won’t work. No wonder this government has presided over the worst Channel crossing figures in history.”
Mr Philp added: “It’s exactly what we’ve been warning about – a bureaucrat’s dream and a lawyer’s paradise set to prevent people ever being returned to France.”
The Treaty, published on Tuesday reads, “The United Kingdom confirms that at the time of their transfer that person will not have an outstanding human rights claim (which shall include a third country national with a human rights claim that has been certified under United Kingdom law as clearly unfounded).”
It further reveals that French officials will refuse to provide any information about the migrants that they will send to Britain.
It continues, “For the avoidance of doubt, under no circumstances shall personal data be transferred from France to the United Kingdom.
“As for transfers from the United Kingdom to France, the communication of personal data shall only take place if such communication is necessary for the implementation of this agreement.”
